Humidity effects on (001) BaTiO_3 single crystal surface water adsorption

摘要

Water adsorption on (001) BaTiO_3 single crystal surface under varying relative humidity conditions was studied by ab initio calculations and scanning probe microscopy utilizing different operation modes. At 95% relative humidity water droplets nucleated only on c domains, preferential adsorption location for water dipoles. BaTiO_3 (001) surface long 65% relative humidity exposure lead to no contrast between a and c domains observed by electrostatic force microscopy. Ab initio calculations confirm that water molecules prefer to adsorb on c domains due to their higher surface energy.